Books: by Tony Campolo

Red Letter Revolution

By: Shane Claiborne and Tony Campolo

For all the Christians facing conflict between Jesus’ words and their own lives, for all the non-Christians who feel they rarely see Jesus’ commands reflected in the choices of his followers, Red Letter Revolution is a blueprint for a new kind of Christianity, one consciously centered on the words of Jesus, the Bibles ’red letters’.

Framed as a captivating dialogue between Shane Claiborne, a progressive young evangelical, and Tony Campolo, a seasoned pastor and professor of sociology, Red Letter Revolution is a life-altering manifesto for skeptics and Christians alike. It is a call to a lifestyle that considers first and foremost Jesus’ explicit, liberating message of sacrificial love.

Shane and Tony candidly bring the words of Jesus to bear on contemporary issues of violence, community, Islam, hell, sexuality, civil disobedience, and twenty other critical topics for people of faith and conscience today. The resulting conversations reveal the striking truth that Christians guided unequivocally by the words of Jesus will frequently reach conclusions utterly contrary to those of mainstream evangelical Christianity.

If the Jesus who speaks to you through the Gospels is at odds with the Christian culture you know, if you have ever wanted to stand up and say, ‘I love Jesus, but that’s not me,’ Red Letter Revolution will prove that you are not alone, but you may have been a Red Letter Christian all along.

Bestselling Christian author, activist, and scholar Tony Campolo and his son Bart, an avowed Humanist, debate their spiritual differences and explore similarities involving faith, belief, and hope that they share.

Over a Thanksgiving dinner, fifty-year-old Bart Campolo announced to his Evangelical pastor father, Tony Campolo, that after a lifetime immersed in the Christian faith, he no longer believed in God. The revelation shook the Campolo family dynamic and forced father and son to each reconsider his own personal journey of faith—dual spiritual investigations into theology, faith, and Humanism that eventually led Bart and Tony back to one another.

In Why I Left, Why I Stayed, the Campolos reflect on their individual spiritual odysseys and how they evolved when their paths diverged. Tony, a renowned Christian teacher and pastor, recounts his experience, from the initial heartbreak of discovering Bart’s change in faith, to the subsequent healing he found in his own self-examination, to his embracing of his son’s point of view. Bart, an author and Humanist chaplain at the University of Southern California, considers his faith journey from Progressive Christianity to Humanism, revealing how it affected his outlook and transformed his relationship with his father.

As Why I Left, Why I Stayed makes clear, a painful schism between father and son that could have divided them irreparably became instead an opening that offered each an invaluable look not only at what separated them, but more importantly, what they shared.

Choose Love Not Power

All too frequently, Christian activists at both ends of the political spectrum see power as the primary instrument for saving the world. “If we just had the power,” they say, “we could set everything right.” I want to say to them, “I wonder why Jesus didn’t think of that?”

The world’s most pressing problems—the degradation of God’s creation, economic instability, systemic inequality, perpetual war—demand solutions. Shouldn’t the urgency of these issues compel us to grab every tool at our disposal...even power? Or should we reject political, economic and religious might in favor of the “weakness” of love? Anyone who is passionate about setting right the world’s many injustices must wrestle with these questions.

In Choose Love, Not Power, scholar and activist Tony Campolo examines Jesus’ life to uncover a “theology of power” for His followers today. Dr. Campolo writes, “Jesus chose a harder way. He chose the way of the cross. He would save the world not through power, but through sacrificial love.” This is a guidebook for a Church that has struggled for centuries to follow the Savior’s example. Are you ready to choose the harder way?

Connecting Like Jesus

By: Mary Albert Darling and Tony Campolo

A hands-on resource for all Christians who want to communicate with more passion and power. Tony Campolo and Mary Albert Darling have teamed up to explore the dynamic connection that occurs when spirituality/spiritual practices are combined with effective communication practices. Churches and other religious organizations depend on the ability of their leaders and members to communicate (speak, teach, and preach) within their congregations and beyond. This important, practical guide will reveal Campolo's preaching secrets and Darling's wise counsel as a professor of communication. Includes interviews with prominent Christian leaders and thinkers. Written by two experts on the topic of communication and spirituality. Tony Campolo is one of America's most remarkable and beloved Christian communicators. This is a key resource written for any Christian who would like to become a more skilled and spiritually mature communicator.

Stories That Feed Your Soul

One of the best ways to tell the Grand Story of the gospel is to tell stories of everyday life where God is at work...just as Jesus did during His earthly ministry. In Stories That Feed Your Soul, a collection of stories from bestselling author Tony Campolo’s life-long friendships and international travels, you will see the gospel at work around the world.

These inspiring and provocative stories center on eight gospel themes:

Intimacy with God
Freedom from condemnation
New life in Christ
Praying in the Spirit
The call to rescue creation
Living with hope
God’s plans for us
The assurance we need from God

Whether humorous or poignant, each story is an unforgettable echo of God at work around and within us.

Red Letter Christians

Over the past couple of decades, Evangelical Christians have often been associated with the Religious Right and the most conservative positions of the Republican Party. Rebelling against this designation are those who prefer to be called Red Letter Christians, desiring to live out the red letters of Jesus' words in the New Testament. Believing that Jesus is neither a Republican nor a Democrat, Red Letter Christians transcend partisan politics and concentrate on issues viewed critically through a moral and biblical lens.

The God of Intimacy and Action

By: Mary Albert Darling and Tony Campolo

In The God of Intimacy and Action, beloved author and activist Tony Campolo teams up with spiritual director Mary Albert Darling to show how contemplative spiritual practices can lead to greater intimacy with God and fuel passion for reaching out to others through spreading the Good News and fostering justice for the poor and oppressed. The authors reveal why this combination is not only crucial but historical and is vividly demonstrated in the lives of saints such as St. Francis of Assisi, Ignatius of Loyola, and Catherine of Siena.

Letters to a Young Evangelical

Letters to a Young Evangelical enjoins Evangelicals young and old to resist the intimidating rhetoric of the Religious Right and think for themselves. An activist, a visionary, and a man of deep faith, Tony Campolo offers guidance not only for young evangelicals but for seekers of all ages and faiths.

Everybody Wants to Change the World

By: Gordon Aeschliman and Tony Campolo

All over the world — and in your community — people are lonely, hungry, sick, struggling to make ends meat, bitter, imprisoned, dying. Do you feel powerless to make a difference? You don’t have to be helpless! In the pages of this book, you’ll find numerous practical ideas for compassionately responding to the needs of others. Jesus calls us to creatively and courageously share the good news by loving our neighbor. It’s time to begin!

Things We Wish We Had Said

By: Tony and Bart Campolo

This book is a collection of personal letters written between Tony Campolo and his adult son, Bart. At times it's funny; at times it leaves the reader quietly sobered. Above all, it's always honest as it portrays the challenges of growing up and parenting. Parents will be delighted with the observations and wisdom on raising children and teenagers will be greatly assisted by the discussions regarding further education and careers. Expect your perspective on the father-son relationship to be expanded as Tony and Bart share, with great wisdom, the lessons they have learned.

Speaking My Mind

Experience has taught Campolo the hard lesson that by challenging the conservative agenda, he risks condemnation by brothers and sisters in Christ who disagree with him. It’s a chance he’s willing to take in order to speak the truth in love, insisting that God is a God of compassion, who accepts and loves us as we are—in all our diversity. "I would not risk incurring arguments and losing friends," says Campolo, "if I were not convinced that what I say here could be important to some struggling Christians."

Adventures in Missing the Point: How the Culture-Controlled Church Neutered the Gospel

By Brian D. McLaren and Tony Campolo

Taking an honest look at the issues facing the culture-controlled Church, Adventures isn't about pointing fingers at "them"; but looking at ourselves. How are we living out our faith in the new millennium and where have we missed the point?

The Survival Guide for Christians on Campus

By: William Willimon and Tony Campolo

Whether you are a committed Christian or one who is still exploring the Christian faith, this book will provide sound answers to difficult questions. Open this book and find help and heart to walk into the jungle of campus life and walk out more than a conqueror.

Which Jesus?

Two men named Jesus. Two claims to be the Messiah. Two lives so interwoven that the destiny of each is wrapped up in the destiny of the other.

One Jesus is the true Messiah. He came to save the world through sacrificial love.

The other, Jesus Barabbas, also claimed to be a messiah. He sought to establish his kingdom through power.

In this fascinating book, best-selling author Tony Campolo contrasts these two men as their lives unfold. Weaving their stories together with biblical facts, historical records, and a bit of imagination, Campolo shows how each man named Jesus represents a different way of life: the way of love or the way of power.

Kingdom Works

By Bart Campolo, foreword by Tony Campolo

Attempts to reach hurting people in our cities can seem hopeless. But across the country, dedicated believers are having a tremendous impact on those living in the inner city- touching hearts and lives and building the kingdom of God.

In this stirring volume- illustrated with striking photographs- you’ll meet young men and women who are living out the gospel in dangerous neighborhoods, and you’ll meet the people they have come to love. As you read these inspiring true stories of personal struggles, you will catch glimpses of God’s love in action and become a firsthand witness of the inspiring and hard-won expansion of God’s kingdom in the inner city.

Revolution and Renewal: How Churches are Saving Our Cities

By: Tony Campolo with stories by Bruce Main

Outlines the extraordinary hope that faith-based ministries are offering our nation's urban wastelands, and has been universally hailed as one of the most important contributions to the national discussion on the role of "faith-based organizations" and social policy.

Let Me Tell You a Story: Life Lessons from Unexpected Places and Unlikely People

A must-have for all fans of Tony's preaching. A collection of his favorite stories, anecdotes, and illustrations, organized thematically. The story is as compelling, moving and dynamic as Campolo is in person, and is the perfect gift for your pastor or your searching friends.

Following Jesus Without Embarrassing God

With candor and insight, Tony Campolo passionately hits on hot button issues that impact the Christian life, including how to: protect yourself from technology without becoming Amish, have a devotional life without becoming a monk, and figure out the will of God without hearing voices from Heaven.

Can Mainline Denominations Make a Comeback?

Mainline denominations have seen better times. Their diminishing membership has led some to conclude that these churches have had their day. From his vantage point as a sociologist and preacher, Tony Campolo challenges the assumption that denominations are on the road to extinction. He argues that if they can restructure themselves in relation to the major social changes of recent years and the years ahead, and if the church can recover a balance between evangelism and social action, they just might be able to make a comeback.

Partly Right: Learning from the Critics of Christianity

Middle-class Christianity has outlasted its strongest critics, and is today seeing its most explosive growth in years. But there are many critics who think that middle-class Christianity is a dinosaur, ready for extinction. Claiming that the church is outdated and oppressive, they outline plans for a revolutionary society, discarding the social advances that have sprung from the faith of the Reformation. You need to understand what these critics and enemies of the faith are saying if you want to share a vital and compelling faith with nonbelievers.

Whether from outside the church or within the body of Christ, these critics have something important to say to you as a believer. Sociologist and popular author Tony Campolo shows who these critics are, where there are criticisms are valid, and where their assumptions are false. From revolutionaries like Karl Marx to elitist like Nietzsche and Freud, Campolo examines the ideologies that have shaped our world and challenged biblical Christianity.

You’ll also learn to appreciate the roots of your faith. Campolo shows how the values of the middle-class Christian church developed, how the church affects society, and what you as a Bible-believing Christian can do to help today’s church be an effective force for God’s Kingdom.

Carpe Diem

This book encourages the reader to seize life and live it passionately, engaging the moment with intensity and gaining from life all that it has to offer. This is Tony's call to overcome the deadness that pervades our culture along with ways this can be done.

Everything You’ve Heard is Wrong

Campolo offers a book on business with a twist. Grounding his argument in biblical principles, Tony makes a bold case that love works in the marketplace and that good character is the most important ingredient for success.

How to Rescue the Earth Without Worshiping Nature

"Creation was meant to glorify God. The task of the Christian is not to worship nature, but to join nature in worshiping God," says Campolo, using the Bible to make the case for Christian environmentalism.

Sociology Through The Eyes of Faith

By David Fraser and Tony Campolo

Two distinguished scholars offer a Christian view of sociology.

In Sociology Through the Eyes of Faith leading sociologists David A. Fraser and Tony Campolo facilitate a lively dialogue between sociology and Christianity, comparing the kingdom of this world to the Kingdom of God and revealing how God’s truth is compatible with social realities. Fraser and Campolo explore questions such as:

Are sociology and Christianity incompatible?

How did sociology and the Christian faith become divided?

What gifts does sociology bear for humanity and for Christianity?

This comprehensive work, one of a series cosponsored by the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, is designed to help students and teachers understand how sociology has evolved and how Christian sociologist can make sense of the interchange between their faith and sociology.

The Kingdom of God is a Party

The Kingdom of God is a Party is an attitude changing, spirit-renewing examination of the feeling behind our faith. Whether by words, deeds, or mere presence, Christians can turn life into a festive occasion that will attract the needy, lonely, sick and oppressed into the arms of a loving Heavenly Father.

20 Hot Potatoes Christians Are Afraid to Touch

In this book, Campolo attacks a wide range of subjects including: "Are Christians too pro-Israel?", "Can rich Christians get into heaven?", "Does Christianity have any good news for homosexuals?", and "Can a mother of a preschool child have a career and not feel guilty (and where does dad fit into it all)?" At once thought-provoking and compassionate, this book is a Campolo best-seller.

Who Switched the Price Tags?

In Who Switched the Price Tags? Tony Campolo calls Christians to a whole new way of life. "What is the good life?” he asks -- and how do we attain it? It's not in getting but in giving, he declares, and shows us how it works.

You Can Make a Difference

With upbeat humor and fresh perspective, Tony Campolo challenges young people to move beyond good intentions and set a course for a lifetime of spiritual adventure. Instead of settling for half-hearted conformity, you can embrace life and become the world-changing person God created you to be. This updated edition of the classic book offers an energetic perspective on what it means to be an authentic, effective Christian in the 21st century.

It’s Friday but Sunday’s Comin'

Tony Campolo has a reputation for delivering a profound message with sharp wit, unbridled passion, and complete honesty. This classic book, expanded from the film of the same title, brings you face to face with Dr. Campolo to hear just such a message: an unashamed proclamation that the Gospel of Christ, when taken seriously, is able to meet every human need-the need for psychological health, emotional well-being, self worth and value, love, purpose in life, miracles, and hope. With passion and humor Campolo challenges us to face life's problems with the hope of the resurrection and shout, It's Friday, but Sunday's Comin'!

A Reasonable Faith

Do you feel like you are speaking a foreign language when you discuss Christianity with non-believing contemporaries? Do you sometimes get the impression that they think your faith in Christ is as exotic as a witch doctor’s belief in magic spells? Do you wonder why there seems to be an unbridgeable gap between their secular beliefs and your religious convictions?

A Reasonable Faith shows you how to bridge the gap between faith and intellectual arguments and helps you see the ways that Christian beliefs intersect with modern needs and concerns.

Avoiding black/white arguments that pit Christians against secular humanist, Tony Campolo offers a clear understanding of what each side is saying. He says, “Those of us who would talk about God and communicate our faith to such persons in a way that allows them to see it as a viable option for a life commitment, must understand the character of secularity.” In this book, he shows how today’s secular mind-set developed and offers a true Christian view of being human.

The Success Fantasy

Read what Tony Campolo says about success and how it is measured in our culture. He discusses success all the way from “School Daze” on to “Symptoms of Mid-Life Males” (and the mid-life woman) single people, and finally “The Throwaway People.” Though you probably won’t always agree with this incisive thinker, you will chuckle as you read. And you will finish the book with a clearer idea of how God measures success.

What is Success?

Is it the birthright of the good?
The blessing of God?
The doctrine of a cult?
The way to wealth, power, and prestige?